Emergency Shelters

For Single Women

Mary Mother of Hope House I

Mary Mother of Hope House I opened in 1977 as the first emergency shelter for single homeless women in the Delmarva Peninsula. This shelter provides housing and supportive services for those women 18 and over who want to address the root causes of their homelessness. Programs include intensive case management, drug and alcohol counseling, mental health services, housing assistance and placement, and job search and training.

Since Hope House I began, over 6,000 women have received supportive services that helped them regain self-esteem and improve the quality of their lives in a safe and secure environment. The newly renovated facility can accommodate 21 women.

Tara Winters, a former Hope House resident, has gone on to start her own successful child care agency on Wilmington’s East Side.

Mary Mother of Hope House III

In response to the special needs of homeless women with children, the Ministry of Caring established two emergency shelters, Mary Mother of Hope House II & III. These cheerful, comfortable sites provide residents with a stable environment of support and guidance along with nourishing, well-balanced meals for 30 to 45 days. In their journeys toward self-sufficiency, the women also have an opportunity to acquire skills in life management and parenting and also to use Ministry of Caring child care services. Their children receive educational and recreational enrichment throughout their stays.

Hope House II & III are key points of entry into the Ministry continuum of care for the homeless. Case managers can easily connect women with services such as job training/placement assistance, medical and dental care and personal counseling.

For Single Men

House of Joseph I

House of Joseph I provides emergency shelter and services to homeless employable men. Residents come to the shelter for reasons that include family challenges, substance abuse, mental health disorders, unemployment or underemployment. Case managers initially help the men to resolve immediate crises. Subsequently, they begin the process of identifying barriers to long-term self-sufficiency. The opportunity to learn life management skills has proven especially helpful.

When case managers determine which residents need and desire additional supportive services, they may refer them to a holistic residence or long-term housing program of the Ministry of Caring. Throughout every resident’s stay, House of Joseph I strives to help each man reach his next step on the road to independent living.

Willie Newson, director of House of Joseph I, helps homeless employable men find a path to
greater independence.